Apparatus for manufacture of gas



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. PARlISWORTH. APPARATUS FOR. MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 551,815.

Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

W/f/VESZSES aw wfl ANDREW B GRAHAM PMOTD-LITNQWAsNINGTOMDD.

(No Model.)

2 Shts-Shet 2.

1E. PARNSWORTH, APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 551,815.

Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

54 5, 'fwr/w,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA FARNSW'ORTlL-OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA;

APPARATUS FORNIANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,815, dated December 24, 1895. Application filed August 12, 1895. Serial No. 659,079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EZRA FARNsWORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasometers and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminatingwhich receives and holds the gas; and the objects of my invention are to provide convenient means to insert the said solid into the apparatus for the production of gas withcarbide used in making the gas.

out permitting any escape of gas during the operation, to seal the opening through which such solid is introduced, to provide improved means for holding such solid within the liquid during the production of gas, and to provide a movable stop against which the said cover will strike before rising sufficiently high to allow the escape of gas from the tank, but which stop maybe swung out of the way when the cover is tobe removed for the purpose of cleaning out the tank. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical'section of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tube and basket or receptacle which holds the solid for the production of gas. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the frame through the line .2 .2, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail showing the lid covering the opening which leads through the piston into the basket or receptacle that holds the Fig. 5 is a detail showing a plan view of the piston with the lid removed. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the tube through the line 6 6, Fig. 1, when the piston and basket are in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. Fig. '7 is a detail showing an elevation of the piston to which the basket is attached. 7

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame of the gas receiver or holder is designated by 1, while 2 refers to the tank having double walls. The annular space inclosed by such walls is filled with water, as usual. Into this annular space fits the movable cover 3, said water forming a sealing. The cover is suspended from above by chains or cords 4 which pass over pulleys 5 at the top of the frame 1. The movable cover is counterbalanced in the usual way by weights 6, the cover 3 being heavier than the weights, thus forming an ordinary telescoping gasometer. The water or other fluid 7 to be used in the manufacture of gas is within the circular space inclosed by the double walls. For the purpose of keeping up this supply of water or other liquid I provide inlet-pipe 8, into which the water may be poured from the outside. A tube 9- is secured to the top of the cover 3 and projects downward within the space which holds the liquid 7. An exterior opening leads through the said top cover 3 to the interior of the tube 9, which opening is closed by means of the screw-cap 10, so as to form an air-tight covering. Closely fitting within the tube 9 is a piston 11. About the central portion of the piston 11 and between the walls of the piston and the tube 0 is an annular space filled with any suitable packing 12 so as to make a close joint against the inner side of the tube 9.

A basket 13 is attached to the inner end of the piston 11 and is placed concentric therewith. The basket or receptacle 13 is perforated so as to permit the free passage of water or other liquid through the same to come in contact with the carbide 14 or other solid used for the production of the gas. An opening leads through the piston 11 into the basket 13, which opening is closed with an airtight joint by means of the lid l5. A handle 16 upon the outer end of a shank 17 is secured to the central portion of the lid 15 for purposes that will be hereinafter stated. In order to secure the liduipon the said opening in the piston, cars 18 upon the lid will fit beneath lugs 19, secured to the piston. By removing the screw-cap 10, Figs. 1 and 2, and grasping the handle 16 the piston 11 may be drawn upward and outward through the tube 0 to the position shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 1. To retain the piston in this position I provide springs 26 attached to the piston, which engage upon projection 27 at the outer end of the tube. A slight turn of the handle 16 to the left will remove the lid which covers the opening leading into the basket.

In order to prevent the piston 11 from turning in the operation of unscrewing or loosening the lid 15 I have provided pins or projections 20 which project inward from the inner surface of the tube 9, between which one of the lugs 19 will be brought when the piston and basket are lifted into the position before stated. By the removal of the lid 15 free access is had to the basket 13 to replenish the carbide. lVhen this is done the lid 15 will be replaced and screwed into position with its ears beneath the lugs, and the piston and basket can be pushed down to the lower end of the tube 9. A flange 21 will prevent the piston from passing beyond the lower end of the tube. The screw-cap 10 being now re placed and the basket 13 being in the water 7, the production of gas proceeds until it has raised the movable cover 3 of the gas-holder to such an extent as to lift the basket 13 out of the water. The gas is drawn off in the usual manner through a supply-pipe 22 to be used in illuminating or other purposes as may be desired. \Vhen a suflicient quantity has been used to allow the movable cover 3 to fall so as to bring the basket again within the water the production of gas will again proceed as before, the same being thereby auto- 1n atically regulated. Since the piston 11 with its lid 15 will prevent any gas from rising into the tube 9 from the basket, and the water 7 will seal the tube 9 at its lower end when the piston and basket are raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, gas will not be allowed to escape and offensive odors will be prevented during the necessary operation of replenishing the carbide or other solid.

In an automatic gasometer or gas receiver and generator to be used in private houses this is of great importance, for no apparatus would be practicable for furnishing gas for gas-light in such a place which would allow even a moderate amount of gas to escape in .this operation.

It is essential to reach the inner portion of the tank 2 occasionally for the purpose of removing deposit from the bottom. This will ordinarily be done when the gas in the holder is nearly consumed, and such amount of gas as may be still in the holder may be drawn 0E through the gas-jet 23 and burned to prevent its escape through the building. The movable cover 3 will be lifted until its lower edge rises above the top of the tank 2, when free access will be had within the tank 2 for the purpose of removing the deposit.

To provide against the possibility of lifting the movable cover 3 above the top of the water sealing between the double walls of tank 2 in the production of gas, and thus permit the escape of gas, I provide a stopframe 24 hinged to the frame 1, as shown in Figs. 1. and 3, over the movable cover 3. It

' will be so placed that the cover 3 will strike against the said frame, and its further upward motion prevented before the movable cover can rise entirely above said water sealing. Buttons will hold the stop-frame 21 in a vertical position; but when it is desired tolift the movable cover of the gas-holder above the tank for the purpose of cleaning out the deposit before referred to the stopframe 24 will be swung upward and outward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube extending within the gasometer, provided with an exterior opening, means for closing said exterior opening, a piston within the tube, provided with an opening, means for closing said last named opening, and a receptacle suspended below the piston, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within the gasometer, said tube having an exterior opening, means for closing said exterior opening, a piston fitted to said tube, provided with a central opening, means for closing said central opening, and a receptacle suspended from the piston, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer having a bell adapted to rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube within the gasometer suspended from said bell, said tube having an exterior opening, means for closing said exterior opening, a piston fitted to said tube, and a receptacle suspended below the piston, substantially as shown and described.

4c. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer having a bell adapted to rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube suspended from said bell and provided with an exterior opening, a piston fitted to said tube and having an opening through the same, means for closing said last named opening, and a receptacle suspended below said opening, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within the gasometer, a piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading from the exterior through said tube and piston to the interior of the gasometer, an open receptacle into which said opening leads, and means for closing said opening, substantially as set forth.

6. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within the gasometer, a movable piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading from the exterior through said tube and piston to the interior of the gasometer, means for closing said opening, an open receptacle suspended from the inner end of said piston, and means for drawing said basket and piston through said tube, substantially as herein set forth.

7. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, having a bell adapted to rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube open at both ends, suspended from said bell, a movable piston fitted to said tube and provided with a central opening, a receptacle suspended from the inner end of said piston,

means for closing said openings, and means for drawing the piston and receptacle through the tube, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube open at both ends, suspended Within the gasometer, one of said ends opening outside of the gasometer, a piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading through said piston to a receptacle suspended from the inner end of said piston, means for moving the piston and receptacle through the tube, means for closing the opening leading into said receptacle, and means for holding and retaining the piston and basket at the end of the tube, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a receptacle within the gasometer adapted to hold a solid within a liquid for the production of gas, a -tube leading from the exterior to said receptacle, and means adapted to prevent the escape of gas from the gasometer in replenishing the solid in said receptacle, consisting of a piston fitted to said tube, said piston having an annular space between its walls and the walls of the tube, and suitable packing within said annular space, substantially as set forth.

10. In an automatic apparatus for the production of gas, the combination of a telescoping gasometer, a tube suspended from the movable cover of the gasometer, a piston fitted to said tube, an open receptacle suspended by the piston, and so held as to be alternately immersed in water and lifted above it as the production of gas proceeds or ceases, and a movable stop frame located above said movable cover, adapted to limit the upward motion of the cover, substantially as set forth.

EZRA FARNSWORTH.

Witnesses:

O. A. BROEFFLE, F. E. POWERS. 

